New doctors accepting patients in Welland

Northtown Medical Associates has welcomed a husband and wife team of family physicians to its office who are now accepting patients.

With such a "large deficit" of family physicians in this area, Dr. Hendrik Alberts was pleased to welcome Dr. Joanne Barker and Dr. C. F. de Wit from Manitoba to the medical office and the community.

With family physicians on staff at the clinic, Alberts said they can provide urgent care to their own patients and others who walk in the door.

Before the two new doctors came on staff, Alberts said staff were stretched too thin and couldn't provide urgent care.

Patients were going to all different clinics, which meant there was no paper trail for things such as blood results, X-rays or background information, which he said "leaves a vacuum in the care of a patient."

"It's for that reason that we wanted not just a walk-in clinic but family physician services," he said. "In the past, I was doing the walk-ins myself. It was impossible. The wait times were unacceptable. Now we have two new doctors. It should go much better."

There are many people in Welland without a family physician, said Alberts. The office has also recognized there is a big need in Port Colborne and St. Catharines. People interested in getting a new family physician are encouraged to stop in the Northtown Medical Associates office to register.

"They will be taking patients for the next few months," said Alberts.

Asked why he decided to come to Niagara, de Wit said the weather was a big factor, as is the fact that there is a lot of support at Northtown Medical Associates and in the community.

The support, he said, "makes a huge difference."

Alberts said there are 13 family physicians who are part of a group who see each other's patients. It's a system that works well, he said.

"None of us can provide care 365 days a year," said Alberts. "It's for that reason we are part of a family health-care group. This way we have 12 other physicians who can cover. We encourage patients, as part of the family health group, to use the service."

Before the new physicians could come to Ontario, they were required to take an exam to be certified as a family physician. Barker did the best out of all the international medical grads, said Alberts, adding she will be receiving a special award for her achievement.

"Literally, out of thousands of doctors, she did the best on the exam," said Alberts.

As a family physician, Barker likes to focus on women and children's health, said her husband.

To register as a patient, stop in the clinic at 325 Thorold Rd. W. or call 905-732-4777 for more information.